Opinion: Shed a tear for Boehner

Following a press conference, Speaker John Boehner carries four small business jobs proposals endorsed by President Obama earlier this week that have been passed by the House as part of the Plan for America’s Job Creators, but remain stalled by Senate Democrats. February 2, 2012. (Official Photo by Bryant Avondoglio)

Photo courtesy of Bryant Avondoglio via Flickr

Last week, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, resigned from office, effective at the end of next month. Please ignore the word “resignation” from this story because Boehner did not leave his job; Boehner was forced out of his job.

Tea Party conservatives do not have a majority in the House. However, they do have a way of criticising the leadership of the Republican party. Boehner is an individual many Democrats do not see eye-to-eye with. But he is an individual many would not see as radical.

In 2013, the House passed a two-year bipartisan budget deal. Many Tea Party members were appalled that Republicans would compromise with Democrats; they would have rather had a government shutdown. Boehner, who sponsored the deal, received all of the backlash from radical Republicans after the legislation passed.

The Republican Party has not been too pleased with Boehner as of late. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., made an announcement Friday on the Boehner resignation. The crowd Rubio spoke with gave a standing ovation and voiced cheers of joy.

The far right drove the man out of office. He resigned, but the extremist right-wing Republicans held his pen as he signed his resignation letter. In politics today, you have to be set in your ways. If you compromise, your support group will no longer be there for you.

In reality, society needs compromise. No matter what our political views are we need to realize we will not always have our views become reality.

During the Pope’s visit to the U.S., Boehner balled his eyes out as the Pope addressed Congress this past week. Boehner had a dream for the Pope to visit the U.S., and now that the Pope has done just that, Boehner can cross the Pope’s visit off of his Speaker bucket list. Boehner now knows it is time to run away from his colleagues.

I can for the first time in modern history resonate with the feeling Boehner has when tears roll down his eyes knowing compromise is not in the vocabulary of the times we live in.

Matt Stephens is the social media director and an opinion columist. Matt also works for WOUB-TV, where he is a reporter for local high school sports as well as Ohio Bobcats Golf and Softball. Matt is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and is a strong advocate for Chipotle burritos.

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